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CLEVELAND — The Ohio Society for the Elevation of Kites has been flying kites for 45 years. On Aug. 14, they’ll host the Cleveland International Kite Festival at Edgewater Park.

Phil Salzstein is the president of the Ohio Society for the Elevation of Kites.

“Born in Cleveland. I’ve been flying here all my life,” he said.

Salzstein began flying kites at 5-years-old. His father was a traveling salesman.

“He used to take me kite flying every weekend when he would come home," Salzstein said. He cherishes those childhood memories.

Steve Fisher is the secretary of the Ohio Society for the Elevation of Kites. He also recalls flying kites as a young boy with his father.

“Well, I flew a few times with my dad when I was small," Fisher said. "We’d make that effort to get out and fly. It didn’t happen real often, but I really enjoyed it.”

Fisher said a decent kite usually costs $25 to $75 and eight to 10 mph winds are ideal conditions.

Salzstein doesn’t buy his kites though—he sews them himself.

“I have a little kite lab in the basement,” he said. “The sails are made out of ripstop nylon. It’s very light, very durable material. It’s fade resistant. The spars are carbon fiber technology, and the fittings are basically vinyl tubing." 

Fisher finds flying kites therapeutic. Even though he’s retired, “I still have stress in my life, but coming out and being able to put the kite up, and to sit back in a chair and just watch it float up for a while, it’s just peaceful. I’m giving something back to the community, I feel, when the families come through and enjoy what they’re seeing up there.”

Like Fisher, most of the kite flying community is of an older generation.

“It’s an aging hobby. Not a lot of kids fly kites anymore," Salzstein said.

However, regardless of age, “I love the people. You’re not going to find mean people flying kites. People are coming down here to relax, have some fun, get the sun, get the wind and it doesn’t get any better,” said Salzstein.

The Cleveland International Kite Festival will be held at Edgewater Park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission and parking are free.